Tomorrow's World has come a little closer with a manned jetpack about to take to the skies after decades of blueprints, disappointments and a few bumpy landings.

Inspired by childhood TV shows such as Thunderbirds and Lost in Space, New Zealander Glenn Martin began working in his Christchurch garage 30 years ago on a device which he hoped would one day see a man speeding through the air under his own power.

The result is an extraordinary piece of machinery in which a 'pilot' stands on a platform at the front, and uses a console to control two vertical engines that mimic the behaviour of the jet engines on a aircraft and can reach a height of up to 8,000ft and travel at 45mph.

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New Zealander Glenn Martin has created extraordinary piece of machinery in which a 'pilot' stands on a platform at the front, using a console to control two vertical engines that mimic the behaviour of the jet engines. The P11 model is pictured

It is expected the jetpack will go on sale for commercial use for the price of a British luxury car - £90,000 - while a specially-fitted unit, with communications equipment for military use demands an asking price of £127,000.

Bird's eye view: The futuristic jetpack jet engines can reach a height of up to 8,000ft and travel at 45mph

It is expected the jetpack will go on sale for commercial use for the price of a British luxury car - £90,000 - while a specially-fitted unit, with communications equipment for military use demands an asking price of £127,000

THE JETPACK'S VITAL STATISTICS

The jetpack is officially registered as a 'Class One Microlight', standing 2.20m and with a width 2.14m.

Its engines are 200hp and there is a 45litre fuel capacity.

It can cover a distance of 18 miles for a period of around 30 minutes and runs on normal car petrol and two stroke oil.

Its noise is the limit of a car - 90 decibels.Take off weight: 725lb.

Pilot visibility: To be flown only by daylight and visually.

Can be flown in light rain.

The New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that the jetpack had been issued with an experimental flight permit for development test flying, meaning that a person can be used to fly the device.

Until now, test flights have been carried out with a dummy at the controls, while technicians on the ground have guided the jetpack by remote control.

Already some 30 budding James Bonds have put down deposits on the futuristic personal transport, inspired by the words of test pilot James Bowker who has flown the jetpack inside a large building ahead of outdoor testing later this year.

'It's a mixture of scary and just awesome,' said Mr Bowker after the indoor flight.

'Flying
it remotely (with just a dummy) means you can see the aircraft and so
you can see everything that happens, but when you're actually in it,
it's all behind you and you just get lifted off the ground. It's just
awesome.'

The New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that the jetpack had been issued with an experimental flight permit for development test flying, meaning that a person can be used to fly the device.

He said there was still a 'little bit more work to do' before the jetpack is ready to be sold but there had been 'tremendous interest' from around the world.

'It's a really exciting time for us,' said Mr Peter Coker chief executive of Martin Aircraft whose company is working in partnership with Emirates to put the final touches to the futuristic machine.

'We have had manned flights on lots of the prototypes in varying forms but this is the first one that is totally manoeuvrable.'

Until now, test flights have been carried out with a dummy at the controls, while technicians on the ground have guided the jetpack by remote control

Some may think that the invention is just a toy for the wealthy but the machine could have life-saving implications. One idea is to mount the jetpack on the back of a fire engine so it could be used by a crew member to scout hazardous areas before firefighters moved in to quell the flames

He added that he was convinced that the jetpack is going to change the whole concept of light aircraft.

'This is the motorbike of the sky,' he said.

He conceded that while the machine might seem like a toy for the wealthy as they zap from town house to country retreat, bosses at Martin believed their creation could have life-saving implications

One idea, said Mr Coker, was to mount the jetpack on the back of a fire engine so it could be used by a crew member to scout hazardous areas before firefighters moved in to quell the flames.

It could also be used to help in the rescue of pee stranded in difficult to reach areas. Even the Thunderbirds would appreciate that.